Loss of McCartney translates to offensive struggles, lose 7-4 to Rutgers University

Taking on Rutgers University, the Delaware women’s lacrosse team fell behind early, while stellar play from the Scarlet Knights increased the deficit. Down 7-1 about halfway through the second half, the Hens came alive, scoring three goals in 1:14.

However, it was not enough, as the team was unable to connect on any more shots. Delaware head coach Kateri Linville said the Hens had several close misses in terms of shooting.

“For a young attack, I think we struggled to put the ball in the back of the net,” Linville said. “We put it on cage, but in the back of the net is still the place where we’re working to find those quality shooting opportunities and finishing those.”
Rutgers started the game with a goal coming in the seventh minute from Halley Barnes. The Scarlet Knights added another, this one from Amanda Trendell, less than four minutes later to make the score 2-0.

After several shots that went off-target or were saved, the Hens connected to make it a 2-1 game, courtesy of junior attacker Chelsea Fay. However, the Scarlet Knights scored twice more before the half. Chrissy Schreiber recorded the first goal, and Katrina Martinelli added the next with 1:26 to play.

Linville said Rutgers had a different style of play the Hens had to prepare for in the days leading up to the contest.

“They played a slow game, and they fouled a lot,” she said.

Delaware had eight shots in the first half, compared to 10 for Rutgers. Both teams had three saves, and the Scarlet Knights committed 17 fouls, compared to the Hens’ eight.

In the second half, Rutgers picked up where it left off. Martinelli scored less than three minutes in, Megan Clements recorded a goal and Schreiber added her second of the contest, making the score 7-1.

Then the Hens came on strong. Junior midfielder Bridget Burns scored 59 seconds after Schreiber, and less than 30 seconds later, junior attacker Abbie Hartman connected on a shot. Hartman followed that up with a second score shortly afterward, cutting the gap to 7-4.

Linville said the team had more success winning the draw in the second and once that came, the goals followed.

“We knew that they were good off the circle and behind the lines, and we really wanted to try and capitalize on Shannon Burns’ ability to self-draw, and I think she was finally able to really box out and that drew a lot of momentum for us,” she said.

Hartman said Rutgers worked on preventing the Hens from setting up isolations and driving to the goal for shot attempts, and eventually Delaware was able to use that against the Scarlet Knights.

“Driving, and then we’d collected the double and then we’d have an open girl,” Hartman said. “That was open a bunch of times.”
The Hens recorded several more shot attempts, but did not score and so fell to the Scarlet Knights, 7-4.

Delaware finished with 18 shot attempts, one less than Rutgers. Both teams turned the ball over 12 times. The Scarlet Knights had 30 fouls, versus Delaware’s 17.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Zaugra, who had seven saves but was tagged with the loss, said the Hens started off slow but played much better as the game went along.

“I had great confidence that we were going to come back, but, again, there just wasn’t enough time on the clock,” Zaugra said.

The loss dropped the Hens to 3-3, while Rutgers moved to 5-1.

The Hens’ second- and third-leading scorers, junior attacker Chelsea Fay and sophomore attacker Allison Hahn, each had three shots but no scores. The team’s leading scorer, sophomore midfielder Caitlin McCartney, did not play due to an injury. Linville said she is not sure when McCartney will return, but she was pleased with the substitutes in Saturday’s game.

“I think the mentality here though is not that Caitlin’s out, it’s the next man ready, and that’s how we always train and compete,” she said.

Delaware plays tomorrow at Delaware Stadium in a 6 p.m. showdown with No. 9 Loyola. Linville said the Greyhounds play at an up-tempo pace, and the Hens will be ready for that.

Hartman said she is motivated to lead the Hens to a win in the upcoming match.

“I know personally, I hate losing, so I’m going to bring this to fuel me the next game, because I don’t want to feel like this again,” Hartman said.